Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1 to 25 of 28 results

1. A Change in Control

Mark 3:20-30

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Last night a friend of mine was talking about his father: he spoke of how, for many years, his father binged out, how his father was a drunkard - a man who when sober was kind and gentle - and when drunk - well he was something else again. He had no control over himself. And this kind and gentle man brought pain and suffering upon others, or at least the force within him did so - the family had to...

2. A Palace in Heaven

Luke 12:32-40

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

There is a legend from the first century about the disciple Thomas who was sent by Christ to India. Thomas was employed by the local king Gundaphorus to build a new palace, and he was given money to buy materials and hire workmen. Thomas gave the money to the poor, but always assured the king that his palace was rising steadily. The king became suspicious when Thomas kept putting off his request...

3. A Picture of Evangelism

John 17:1-11

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

An artist, seeking to depict on canvas the meaning of evangelism, painted a storm at sea. Black clouds filled the sky. Illuminated by a flash of lightning, a little boat could be seen disintegrating under the pounding of the ocean. People were struggling in the swirling waters, their anguished faces crying out for help. The only glimmer of hope appeared in the foreground of the painting, where a l...

4. Amazing Grace

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

John Newton, who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace back in 1779 certainly identified with the younger son, the son who wasted his inheritance. As a young man he left home and went to sea and there lived wildly and free. Like many people who abandon God, he was highly critical of the Christian faith, and spent much time tearing down the faith of the people he met as he went from place to place. It was o...

5. Asking for Help

Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Doctor Fred Collier, a retired physician tells this story about his youth. He was a medical student in the Army Specialized Training Corps in 1945 when World War II ended. He was from a Kansas family that didn't have the kind of money he needed to complete medical school on his own. And so when he mustered out of the army, he had no idea how he'd ever finish school, if indeed he'd ever finish it...

6. Cramming for the Finals

Luke 13:1-9

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Johnny was going home one day past his grandfather's house with a couple of his chums. As they passed the house they spied the old gentleman out on his sun porch in his rocking chair with a big black book (the bible) on his lap reading rather intently. "What's your grandfather doing", asked one of Johnny's friends. "Oh, grandpa - he's cramming for the finals", Johnny replied. Our Lord and Savi...

7. Did Your Mother Ever Say To You?

Mark 1:21-28

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Did your mother ever say any of the following to you? I could plant potatoes in those ears. I'm not your maid. If your friends jumped off a cliff does that mean you have to jump too? Just wait till you have kids of your own! Don't talk with food in your mouth! You weren't born in a barn, so stop acting like you were! And of course I am sure you have heard, if not uttered, the all time classic B...

8. Full Devotion to God

Mark 12:28-34

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

In the days of the circuit riders a minister was out riding one afternoon and came upon a man out working in his field. "Fine day isn't it?" the minister called out. "Its fine for you", the man replied, "All you have to do is ride around on that horse thinking about God all day long, while I have to sweat here in this field and then walk home afterward. I don't think it is right you should have ...

9. Give Me Back My Bite

John 2:13-22

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

The story of Jesus cleansing the temple with a whip reminds me of the old eastern story about a snake that lived on a path on the way to a famous temple in India. Many people would walk along the path to worship, and the snake would often bite people with his poisonous bite. One time a swami was on his way to the temple and the snake jumped out to bite him, but before the snake could bite him the ...

10. It Is Not I

Matthew 16: 21-28

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

It is said that St. Augustine was accosted one day on the street by a former mistress some time after he had become a Christian. When he saw her he turned and walked the other way. Surprised, the woman called out, "Augustine, it is I". Augustine as he kept going the other way, answered her, "Yes, but it is not I." It is an amusing story - one that comes close to making the same point the German t...

11. Keepers of the Aquarium

John 17:1-11

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Paul Harvey, the well known radio broadcaster, once said, "Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men but keepers of the aquarium." I take that to mean that we Christians are more concerned about preserving the Church than we are about touching the lives of other people, more concerned about preserving our "religion" than we are about helping people discover the source of wholeness, the fou...

12. Seeking the Lost

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

Richard J. Fairchild

Lord of light - shine upon us. God of love fill our hearts with your wisdom. Holy Spirit, bring yourself closer to us in my words and how we hear them, in our thoughts and how we think them. Use this time - and use us to accomplish your good will. Amen The Gospel reading began with these words: Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him (Jesus, that is.) And the Phar...

13. Shelter From the Storm

Luke 13:31-35

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

In Mission, British Columbia, a fellow by the name of Ike tells the story about his Grandpa's hen house which burned to the ground one day. Ike arrived just in time to help put out the last of the fire. As he and his grandfather sorted through the wreckage, they came upon one hen lying dead near what had been the door of the hen house. Her top feathers were singed brown by the fire's heat, her nec...

14. Swimming Is Forbidden

Matthew 4:1-11

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

A man by the name of Richard Lederer collects funny signs. Some of these are simply the result of people in foreign countries having difficulty translating into English. He says that at the entrance to a hotel swimming pool on the French Riviera there is a sign that reads like this: "Swimming is forbidden in the absence of a saviour." Maybe the person who put up that sign knew English better th...

15. The Candles of Advent - Year A

Bulletin Aid

Richard J. Fairchild

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: HOPE INTROIT - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. VOICE - Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Hope. VOICE - Our hope is in God, and in his son Jesus Christ. He is the one appointed by God to be judge of all things. H...

16. The Cross Has Always Caused Problems

Mark 8:31-38

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

A Pastor on Northern Vancouver Island wrote to online study group this message: "I'm having difficulty with the Gospel this week; what is this cross that I am to take up, and what am I to deny in following Jesus?" Another Pastor, a student minister in the United States wrote: “I find this a hard gospel text because it talks about suffering rather than joy.” The cross has always caused problems to ...

17. The Long Reach of an Act of Kindness

Matthew 25:31-46

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Alex Haley, the author of Roots tells the story of how his father had his life changed by a simple act of kindness: He was the youngest of eight children, living as a sharecropping family. Everyone in the family was needed to help with the crops. After several years of schooling the family pressed each child into service on the farm. Fortunately the boy's mother intervened on behalf of her chil...

18. The Man Who Dies Rich

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Andrew Carnegie, who amassed a fortune of over 400 million dollars ended up giving 99.5% of it away. He said this about it - "the man who dies rich, dies disgraced."

19. The Power that God Gives

John 14:5-14

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Dr. Leslie Weatherhead, a well know preacher many years ago, said that once, when he was a high school student, he had a very difficult examination. But he had discovered that verse, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do..." He believed that verse meant that all he had to do was ask and he would pass the exam. He told God he was believing God's promise, and he wanted a good gra...

20. The Secret of Power

Luke 24:36b-48

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

The story is told of the explorer who some years ago had just returned to his country from the Amazon. The people at home were eager to learn all about the vast and mighty river and the country surrounding it. How he wondered, could he ever describe it to them - how could he ever put into words the feelings that flooded into his heart when he saw the exotic flowers and heard the night sounds of th...

21. Three Sure Things

Luke 21:18-19

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

A man named John Wilson writes about his father‑in‑law who was a lifelong Bible teacher. However, his father-in-law found his faith troubled in his final years. A degenerative nerve disease confined him to bed, impeding him from most of the activities that gave him pleasure. Meanwhile, his thirty-nine‑year‑old daughter was battling a severe form of diabetes. Financial pressures mounted. During th...

22. Throwing away Treasure

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

A legend tells the story of a fisherman called Aaron. Aaron lived on the banks of a river. Walking home with his eyes half-closed one evening after a hard day's work, he was dreaming of what he could do if he were rich. As he walked his foot struck against a leather pouch filled with what seemed to him to be small stones. Absent mindedly he picked up the pouch and began throwing the pebbles into t...

23. Twas the Beginning of Advent

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Today I want to read to you a poem that is based on a rather famous poem about Christmas called ‘Twas the Beginning of Advent'. It is by a friend of mine - Todd Jenkins. It will tell you a little bit about this season we celebrate. 'Twas the beginning of Advent and all through the Church Our hope was all dying we'd given up on the search. It wasn't so much that Christ wasn't invited, But after 2...

24. Unnatural Birth

John 3:1-21

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

A little girl who was asked to write an essay on "birth." She went home and asked her mother how she had been born. Her mother, who was busy at the time, said 'the stork brought you darling, and left you on the doorstep.' Continuing her research she asked her dad how he'd been born. Being in the middle of something, her father similarly deflected the question by saying, 'I was found at the bottom...

25. Where to Put the Pies

Mark 9:38-41

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

I was in a small rural church one time that had a major dispute about where the pies should be placed in the kitchen prior to serving them for the annual turkey supper. One woman actually left the church community because several new comers to the church had convinced the rest of the women working in the kitchen that it would be more efficient to put the pies on the counter beside the sink instead...

Showing results

Showing 1 to 25 of 28 results

1. A Change in Control

Mark 3:20-30

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

2. A Palace in Heaven

Luke 12:32-40

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

3. A Picture of Evangelism

John 17:1-11

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

4. Amazing Grace

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

5. Asking for Help

Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

6. Cramming for the Finals

Luke 13:1-9

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

7. Did Your Mother Ever Say To You?

Mark 1:21-28

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

8. Full Devotion to God

Mark 12:28-34

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

9. Give Me Back My Bite

John 2:13-22

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

10. It Is Not I

Matthew 16: 21-28

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

11. Keepers of the Aquarium

John 17:1-11

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

12. Seeking the Lost

Luke 15:1-7

Sermon

Richard J. Fairchild

13. Shelter From the Storm

Luke 13:31-35

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

14. Swimming Is Forbidden

Matthew 4:1-11

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

15. The Candles of Advent - Year A

Bulletin Aid

Richard J. Fairchild

16. The Cross Has Always Caused Problems

Mark 8:31-38

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

17. The Long Reach of an Act of Kindness

Matthew 25:31-46

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

18. The Man Who Dies Rich

Luke 16:19-31

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

Andrew Carnegie, who amassed a fortune of over 400 million dollars ended up giving 99.5% of it away. He said this about it - "the man who dies rich, dies disgraced."

19. The Power that God Gives

John 14:5-14

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

20. The Secret of Power

Luke 24:36b-48

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

21. Three Sure Things

Luke 21:18-19

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

22. Throwing away Treasure

Matthew 22:1-14

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

23. Twas the Beginning of Advent

Mark 13:24-37

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

24. Unnatural Birth

John 3:1-21

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

25. Where to Put the Pies

Mark 9:38-41

Illustration

Richard J. Fairchild

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